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Arab News
30-05-2025
- Arab News
Mount Al-Fahlatain — where prophetic history meets pilgrimage tradition
AlUla: Rising from the landscape north of Madinah, Mount Al-Fahlatain has served as a geographical beacon and spiritual waypoint for more than a thousand years. The landmark, on the historic route to AlUla, bears witness to one of Islam's most significant military expeditions — the Prophet Muhammad's journey to Tabuk in 9 A.H. The mountain's name tells its own story. Two colossal rocks crown its summit, their silhouette resembling the horns of a bull — 'fahl' in Arabic, giving rise to 'Al-Fahlatain,' or 'the two bulls.' The sacred site has been documented meticulously by historians and travelers. Ali Al-Samhudi's work, 'Wafa Al-Wafa Bi Akhbar Dar Al-Mustafa,' places the location precisely one day's march from Madinah, describing twin peaks sheltering underlying rock formations. Firuzabadi reinforced its historical significance in 'Al-Maghanim Al-Mutaba fi Ma'alim Taba,' cataloging it among the landmarks witnessed by the Prophet's army on their way to Tabuk. Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Al-Mawlawi provided additional detail in 'Rihlat Al-Shita Wa Al-Sayf,' positioning the twin peaks on the mountain's western flank alongside the main thoroughfare. Al-Suwaidi offered an alternative etymology in 'Al-Nafha Al-Miskiyya Fi Al-Rihla Al-Makkiyya,' suggesting the name reflects the mountain's solitary stance in the landscape, isolated like a bull among grazing camels. Historian and Islamic history researcher Fouad Al-Maghamsi identifies Mount Al-Fahlatain — sometimes called Faifa Al-Fahlatain — as strategically positioned near Shajwa village, northwest of Madinah. With an elevation of 1,084 meters, the mountain commands sweeping views across the surrounding plains, bordered by complementary ridges and highlands. Al-Maghamsi said the site functioned as a vital rest station along the Syrian Hajj route, known as Darb Al-Hajj Al-Shami, earning local appellations including 'Antar's Fortress' and 'Antar's Stable.' Archaeological evidence such as building foundations and service facilities suggests a sophisticated infrastructure designed to support the thousands of pilgrims and merchants who annually traversed these routes. The Syrian Hajj route encompasses diverse terrain rich with sites linked to prophetic biography and pilgrimage heritage.
Sharjah 24
13-03-2025
- Science
- Sharjah 24
UOS dissertation explores Muslim scholars' impact on astronomy
The study was conducted under the supervision of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and Director General of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology, with Prof. Masoud Idris, Director of the Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences, serving as co-supervisor. Dissertation defence panel and evaluation The dissertation defense panel was chaired by Mohammed Mounis, Professor of Islamic History and Civilisation, and included Mashhad Al Alaf, Associate Professor in the Department of History and Islamic Civilisation, as the internal examiner, and Prof. Hatem Wedian from Al al-Bayt University in Jordan as the external examiner. Highlighting the contributions of Ibn al-Shatir to astronomy The primary objective of the study was to highlight the contributions of Muslim scholars to science and astronomy, with a particular focus on Ibn al-Shatir's heliocentric model, which stands as one of the most significant achievements of the Arab-Islamic scientific tradition. Ibn al-Shatir was the first to challenge the Ptolemaic theory and successfully demonstrate its inaccuracies, paving the way for substantial advancements in astronomical science. The Influence of Muslim scholars on Copernicus Recent scholarly investigations confirm that Copernican theories of astronomy did not emerge in isolation but rather were built upon the foundational work of earlier Muslim scholars. The study underscores striking similarities between Copernicus's heliocentric theory and the mathematical models developed by Ibn al-Shatir, particularly in their approaches to resolving issues related to Mercury's orbit and the structure of lunar orbits. Despite some minor discrepancies, both scholars employed identical mathematical techniques in their formulations. The findings strongly suggest that Copernicus was influenced by Ibn al-Shatir, particularly in his calculations that align with the notion of Earth and other planets orbiting the Sun—a concept that contradicts the commonly held belief that Copernicus was the original proponent of the heliocentric model. Dissertation acceptance and scholarly impact At the conclusion of the defense session, the examining committee unanimously recommended the acceptance of the dissertation, conferring upon the researcher a Doctorate in History and Islamic Civilisation from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah. The committee commended the dissertation's originality, its scholarly significance, and its substantial contribution to historical and astronomical knowledge. The study provides fresh insights into the role of Muslim scholars in the evolution of astronomy and their critical contributions to the transmission of scientific knowledge to the West.
